Here are your start / sit fantasy recommendations for the January 28th NHL games.
Please note that you should always start your star players. This list is here to help you if you have two similar players and are debating on which one to start.
While a player may be a “sit” recommendation, he should still be put in your lineup over a player without a game tonight. Accumulating stats takes priority over no stats at all.
Different factors go into picking start / sit candidates including strength of opponent, scoring categories, history vs opponent and sometimes, gut feelings. Take that into consideration before making your final decision.
Players are listed in no particular order.
NOTE: These recommendations are posted before the first game of the day. Some changes may be made if any major changes occur to NHL lineups such as injuries, scratches, or especially, starting goalies, once new information is received. Check back often for any changes, especially for late games.
Forwards
File Photo: Bruce Bennett/Getty Images
| Start | Sit | |
| Zack Kassian – VAN | Gabriel Landeskog – COL | |
| (Seeing top line action. 3 G, 1 on the PP, in 5 games) | (Will not play tonight) | |
| Gabriel Bourque – NSH | Chad LaRose – CAR | |
| (Seeing increased ice time. 1 pt in 3 games) | (Still scoreless. Won’t help in other categories) | |
| Ryan Johansen – CBJ | Patric Hornqvist – NSH | |
| (Looks good early. 15 SOG in 5 games) | (Lower body injury. Out indefinitely) | |
| Nathan Horton – BOS | Derek Roy – DAL | |
| (Time on ice, numbers increasing with every game) | (Will sit again tonight) | |
| Jiri Tlusty – CAR | Cam Atkinson – CBJ | |
| (Seeing increased ice time. 8 SOG last 2 gms) | (Placed on IR. Will not play) |
Defensemen
File Photo: Christian Petersen/Getty Images
| Start | Sit | |
| Oliver Ekman-Larsson – PHX | Joe Corvo – CAR | |
| (4 pts, 2 on the PP, 15 SOG in 5 gms) | (Still scoreless. Healthy scratch last game) | |
| James Wisniewski – CBJ | Zbynek Michalek – PHX | |
| (12 SOG in 5 gms. 12 pts, +6 in 17 gms vs DAL) | (Scoreless. 4 pts in 20 gms vs NSH) | |
| Justin Schultz – EDM | Slava Voynov – LA | |
| (2 G, 6 pts, 14 SOG in 4 gms. Should be starting in every lg) | (Scoreless, not providing much in other categories) | |
| Ryan Wilson – COL | Justin Faulk – CAR | |
| (Getting plenty of ice time. 2nd on tm with 14 SOG) | (Out for tonight’s game) | |
| Dougie Hamilton – BOS | Jack Johnson – CBJ | |
| (Pts starting to come. 3 pts, 6 SOG last 2 gms) | (0 pts in 5 gms. Tough matchup tonight) |
Goalies
File Photo: Jana Chytilova/Freestyle Photo/Getty Images
| Start | Sit | |
| Anton Khudobin – BOS | Chad Johnson – PHX | |
| (Gets the start for the Bruins. Career 5-1, 1.32 GAA) | (1st NHL start since 5/31/11) | |
| Kari Lehtonen – DAL | Semyon Varlamov – COL | |
| (Gets start vs weak tm. 5-3-1, 1.78 GAA in 9 gms vs CBJ) | (0-2 on the road this season. 3-3, 2.49 career vs EDM) | |
| Roberto Luongo – VAN | Devan Dubnyk – EDM | |
| (Starts for Canucks. 14-9-3, 2.22 in 26 gms vs LA) | (Has struggled early with a 3.82 GAA in 4 games) | |
| Cam Ward – CAR | Sergei Bobrovsky – CBJ | |
| (Has looked better. 4-0, 1.25 GAA last season vs BOS) | (Tough matchup with Benn’s return) |
Remember, use this list as a guideline if you are debating between a few players to round out your lineup. Just because a star player appears on the “sit” list doesn’t necessarily mean you should sit that player if your other options aren’t decidedly better.
If you have any questions about your fantasy lineup, don’t hesitate to ask.
Good Luck!
Carlos Figueiredo
NHL Rankings & Content Editor
Dynasty Sports Empire
@SpeakoftheDevs
